Chapter 4 #2
I take a step forward. If I were to reach out, I would touch him.
I don’t, of course, because that would be completely unprofessional of me.
“I understand that, but honestly, it would help me out too. You know this place, and even if you still work one or two nights a week, you’d give me a chance to take a break or work on some of the changes I’ve been hoping to make. ”
At the last part, I see the corner of his jaw tick as it tightens. Clearly, he doesn’t like the idea of me making changes. I can understand his reluctancy, but he’s annoyed without even hearing what I have planned for this place, and that annoys me.
“Listen, you and I got off on the wrong foot. I’d like to start over.
I’m not a bad guy—or woman, actually. Yes, I do plan to make some improvements and changes here, but I’m not about to destroy what Chuck has already built.
” An idea quickly forming in my mind, I add, “Give me thirty days. It’s a simple request.”
He holds my gaze, not saying a word for several seconds. Finally, he asks, “A simple request?”
I nod. “Yes. Thirty days, and at the end, if you don’t like what I’m doing or simply don’t like working here anymore, just say the word and I’ll take you off the schedule. No questions asked.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that,” I confirm.
He exhales, running his hand across the back of his neck. “Thirty days.”
“Yep.”
After a few seconds he finally agrees. “All right, thirty days.”
Relief washes over me at his agreement, mostly because I don’t want to worry about hiring someone right now. I have a long list of projects to work on, and training a new employee isn’t near the top of that list. “Great. Thank you.”
He nods, glancing toward the door. “You should probably get back out there. It was pretty busy.”
“Yeah,” I reply, moving to the closed door. “The entire town seems to be here tonight,” I add with a big grin.
“The entire town is curious…about you.”
“I’m nothing special,” I state with an awkward chuckle.
I swear I hear him murmur, “I beg to differ,” but when he doesn’t elaborate or say anything else, I assume I just made it up. My mind wants Collin to be different for some reason, to prove good guys really do still exist.
Just as I pull open the door and step forward, I smack square into the chest of…Collin?
“There you are,” he states, a big, wolfish grin on his face.
My mouth drops open and my neck practically gives me whiplash as I look behind me. “What the hell?”
The man in front of me barks out a laugh. “Well, hello to you too, darlin’.”
Collin exhales loudly before saying, “Lizzie, meet my brother, Cade.”
“Brother,” I whisper, looking forward once more.
“Twin brother,” Cade announces, reaching his hand forward and giving mine a gentle shake before bringing it to his lips. “I’m the better looking one.”
I bark out a laugh, because from where I’m standing, there’s not much difference between the two.
Actually, I take that back. There are a few subtle differences, like a small scar under Collin’s right eye, and the slight lump on the top of Cade’s nose that indicates it’s been broken at one point.
Not to mention Collin’s eyes appear a bit more vivid and a lot more hypnotic, while Cade’s blue eyes just scream mischief.
Collin sighs once more and steps between us, practically pushing his brother out of the way. “She’s gotta get back to work.”
Cade just smiles. “What were you two doing in here…behind a closed door…alone?”
“Talking,” Collin insists, his tone leaving no room for nonsense.
Cade barks out a laugh. “Is that what you kids are callin’ it these days?”
“Actually, we were just talking, and now I really do need to get back up to the bar,” I insist, finding myself smiling. While I don’t feel the same attraction to Cade as I do Collin, I can appreciate his lighthearted, fun nature.
“You do. The natives are starting to get restless,” Cade confirms, glancing toward the bar.
I pass by him and quickly make my way to help Jani. “Sorry,” I mutter before jumping right in and filling orders.
She doesn’t seem fazed by my absence, nor does she appear frazzled to be busy. She just goes with the flow and fills drink orders as quickly as possible. I like her and hope she sticks around. She’s a hard worker with a good head on her shoulders.
Recognizing we’re getting low on a few different beers in the cooler, I start making a mental list of what needs brought up the first chance we get.
Movement catches out of the corner of my eye, and I stop what I’m doing as Collin appears behind the bar, carrying cases of beer.
Without being asked—and without being on the clock—he gets to work on stocking the coolers with beer from the back cooler.
When he looks my way, I offer a grin full of appreciation, and all I can hope is this is us crossing the bridge of understanding.
I think if he sticks with me for the next thirty days, he’ll like what I have planned.
Of course, if he doesn’t and he leaves, there’s no skin off my back.
I’m not doing this for anyone but myself, and the only person who needs to be happy with what I do at the end of the day is me.
By the time it slows down enough for Jani and me to catch a breath, I head out and start clearing tables.
The crowd has thinned as we approach eleven, but there’s still some groups of patrons enjoying their evening.
I pull a large trash can on wheels toward the pool table where Collin, Cade, and their friends play.
“So, you must be Lizzie, huh?”
I turn and find a woman with ocean-blue eyes and lighter blond hair sipping a mixed drink and watching me. “I am.”
“I’m Charli,” she states with a friendly smile.
“It’s her birthday,” Cade announces, coming over and giving her a hug.
“Well, happy birthday,” I tell her.
“Thanks,” she says, glancing over at the table, where Collin is lining up his shot. My eyes follow hers, and I’m treated to a nice view of him bending over. When he makes the shot, Cade hollers in victory, while two others show their displeasure. “Sorry, my family can be a little loud.”
I can’t help but laugh. “No worries. This isn’t exactly a quiet place.”
“You know Collin and Cade, right?” When I nod, she continues, “The other two idiots are Camden, my youngest pain in the ass brother, and his bothersome friend, Quinn.”
Grinning widely, I reply, “I have two younger brothers and a sister, and a whole slew of cousins, so I understand.”
Charli raises her glass in salute. “Lizzie, you and I are gonna be good friends, I can tell.”
I don’t know why, but I believe her, and the thought of having friends here in Cooper Town makes my anxiety over my big move lessen even more. Not that I didn’t think I’d make new friends eventually, but I’m already getting along with everyone I’ve met.
Except Collin.
The jury’s still out on him.